Local

Warren ceremonies may move next year to new veterans monument BY JOHN MCKENNA REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN

WARREN -- Sunday's colorful and patriotic salute to Memorial Day just may have been the last one on the Green in the center of town.

If all goes to plan, next year's tribute will be at a new veterans monument on Cemetery Road next to the town's "new" cemetery.

"The aim is to do it in pieces and have it all built by Memorial Day of next year," veteran Dan Dacey, emcee of the ceremony on the Green, said afterward.

A veterans memorial committee is working to raise funds to build a monument that will list the names of Warren veterans, living and deceased, who served during World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and the Gulf wars.

A veteran must have been a Warren resident at the time of enlistment or discharge to have his or her name engraved on the monument.

A model of the monument, designed by architect Nathalie Brodhead of Warren, was on display at the Warren Historical Society after Sunday's parade and ceremony. The current monument on the Green, which does not list names of veterans, will be relocated to the new site.

The ceremony featured recognition of parade marshal Edward Farrell of Warren, who served in the Marines in World War II and earned a Purple Heart for wounds suffered in combat in the Marshall Islands.

Farrell, who was master of ceremonies for the parade, yielded to Dacey and expressed pride in securing quality talent for the event. Aleshia Evans, a professional vocalist who sang the national anthem, and Jim Schultz, a sound-system expert, were two of Farrell's recruits.

With Schultz's sound system, Evans' voice rang out loud and clear through the center of town while accompanied by the Wamogo Regional High School band.

Another tradition that has continued is the reading of Farrell's poem, "For Country and You." Doing the honor this year was Boy Scout Ben Frisbie.

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Kelly Benham and Caleb Gabriel-Deveau, and the Gettysburg Address was read by Emily Fischer. Jenna Downs, another talented singer in town, sang "America the Beautiful." Miranda Calhoun recited "In Flanders Fields."

Placing a wreath at the veterans monument were Girl Scout Diana Squires and Boy Scout Conner Smith. Accompanying the youngsters to the monument were World War II veterans Joe Grossi and Abe Nicholas.

Post a reader comment

We encourage your feedback and dialog. Please be civil and respectful.If you're witty, to the point and quotable, your reader comments may also be included on the Around the Towns page of The Sunday Republican. Readers must be registered and logged in to post comments on the site. Registration is free. Click Here to register.
A Subscription is not required to post comments only a Registration.